At the US Open today, the second day of four commenced with Tiger Woods pretty much out of it. In the afternoon he came roaring back with a string of birdies (one less then the course is rated for) to put him one back of the leader.
It was a wonderful piece of drama. The PGA is finally waking up to market its best players by eliminating the usual random draw for threesomes. This year they put together some "marque" players together in the foursomes. Tiger was playing with Phil Mickleson, the number two player on the ratings list. The number three player in the world Adam Scott was also included in the group. The HD coverage even followed this group exclusively in a separate channel. Usually golf switches back and forth picking out the players that are doing the best from their groupings. By following this group it was more rhythmic and the viewer had a chance to see the group (providing you were focused on that group) to the exclusion of the others. They even had a female on the course walking with the group to identify conditions and situations that would be only visible on the ground level and in front of the lines.
The course preparation took its toll too. In most tournaments these golfers are used to getting way better than the course is rated. It is not unusual for the tournament leader to win the contest with scores that are 8 to 11 shots better than the course is rated. This is not so with the US Open. The top score today was 3 less than the course was rated. When we covered the Olympic club's US Open, the winning score was just one shot better than the course was rated.
Two more days to go.
Love Pat
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